Ethics Complaint Filed Against U.S. Rep. DesJarlais by Watchdog Group

The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has filed a congressional ethics complaint against Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, accusing the Jasper physician of lying when confronted about an affair with a patient.

DesJarlais won a second term this month despite revelations that he once urged a mistress to seek an abortion. During the campaign he disputed allegations he dated patients and wrote prescriptions for them. A court transcript released the week after the election showed he admitted the incidents while testifying at his 2001 divorce trial.

The transcript also showed that DesJarlais acknowledged recording the abortion conversation with his mistress, although he denied that during the campaign.

The congressman’s office did not immediately comment.A CREW statement demanded Congress to punish DesJarlais for what it called “numerous lies.”